Turn Your Old Calendars Into Pretty Gift Wrapping Bows!

How's your first week of 2022 been, bots and babes? Mine's been pretty restful, since the new year is when things finally slow down over here. Of course I spent exactly two days napping and saying how wonderful it was to relax, then by day three I was prowling the house looking for projects. Ha! (Sorry, John.)

To that end my eye fell on our old 2021 calendar, and I decided to revisit a paper craft I used to love years and years ago.

Oh good, it's not just me.

And look what I made!

I originally learned this method using magazine pages from one of my favorite - and sadly now long gone - blogs, How About Orange. However the original source seems to be here, where nothing is in English but the pictures are lovely, so it's worth a click just for those:

I especially like the little embellishments in the middle, still need to try that.

Since I don't get magazines anymore I hadn't done this paper craft in ages - but I figure a calendar is basically a big magazine, right?

So after I turned my entire Flowers calendar into bows I thought I might film a tutorial for y'all, since there are a few tricky steps that are much easier to explain on film. A friend gave me her old Space calendar, too, so for the tutorial I got to make galaxy bows, awww yeeeeah:

All I Want For 2022

I want to reach someone new, I want to try something different.

I want to start the conversation, never end it.

I want to stomp footprints in the shifting sands of strangers' lives. I want to sift out their most beautiful flaws, and melt them into kaleidoscope glasses I will never take off.

I want to shatter hesitations, and give taloned wings to those who leap.

I want to tuck soft blankets around invisible shames, and sing sweet lullabies of safe spaces.

I want to grow down, chin up.

I want to fling joy like confetti: sweep giggles, snap grins, frame laughter.

I want my hands and heart to grow weary with giving, reach deep, and give more.

I want to scream my dream from the mountaintop, and watch it spark an avalanche of restlessness and hope, crashing and changing and rearranging all that it touches.

I want to unite jagged edges, but never smooth them.

I want to mark the passage of time by eyes met and burdens shared.

I want to dance first, worst, and often.

I want to charge howling into hurtful places, swords drawn, eyes clear, heart exposed.

I want to rest easy in planted places, green with peace - but still growing.

I want my legacy to be smile lines, open minds, kindness, love, and love of all kinds.

Hello, new year.

Shall we?

*****

My December Squeegineer winners are Brenda F. and Jen B.! Congrats, you two, and please check your inboxes for a message from John so you can choose your prizes.